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Obituary for Ralph R. Calabrese

Ralph R.  Calabrese
Ralph R. Calabrese

GENEVA- Ralph R. Calabrese, 82 of Geneva passed away on Saturday May 6, 2017 at his home.

There will be no prior calling hours. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday (May 10) at 10:30 a.m. at the McGuigan & Bero Funeral Home, 45 High St. Geneva. The Rev. Thomas P. Mull will officiate. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Happy Tails Animal Shelter 2976 County Road 48 Canandaigua, NY 14424.

Ralph was born on July 31, 1934 in Geneva the son of the late Ralph and Mary Piergrosso Calabrese. Out of high school he worked for Sinclair Oil as a truck driver. He later was drafted and served in the United States Army and stationed at Fort Drum, NY, Fort Dix, NJ and Fort Devans, MA working as manager of the motor pool. He was offered a promotion to Sergeant at the time of the Vietnam War; however, decided instead for Honorable Discharge so he could marry his wife Shirley Townsend Calabrese.

Ralph returned to Geneva and then worked at Ontario Sand and Gravel as plant manager. When Ontario Sand and Gravel closed, he was hired as a boiler fireman at the Seneca Army Depot. When the Seneca Army Depot closed, he took a job working maintenance at Thompson Hospital prior to retiring. After retirement, he was a full-time care giver to his wife Shirley who had Alzheimer’s disease for 10 years before she passed at home. Ralph also dearly loved his cats Nikki, Ming Toi and Chewy.

He is survived by his son, Kirk (Candy) Calabrese of Geneva; brothers, Michael (Sherry) Calabrese and Paul (Bernadette) Calabrese both of Geneva; brother’s-in-law, Michael Benkovich and Gary (Adrienne) Townsend; grandchildren, Julie Liliestedt and James Liliestedt; nieces and nephews, Mary Beth Benkovich, Stephen (Debbie) Benkovich, Melody (Matthew) Marchese, Melanie Calabrese and Shane Russ; several great nieces and nephews; his cat, Chewy.

Ralph was predeceased by his wife Shirley; sister, Catherine Benkovich.

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